Hernia support



April 15, 1952 J. CALAB RESE HERNIA SUPPORT Filed Feb. 12, 1951 @hrz CZZfe'se INVENTOR l l 'BY 7l l 1 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENToFFIcE HERNIA SUPPORT John Calabresa'Weston, Wa..l I Application February 12, 1951, Serial No. 210,599

This invention relates to a. hernia support or truss.

One important object of the present invention is to provide a novel truss design whereby a cup support for the scrotum may be readily formed, and which will comfortably and protectively enclose the scrotum.

Another important object is to provide a truss design readily formed from identica1 front and back pieces, between which is interposed a specially formed pad which will not only apply pressure to the ruptured portion of the abdomen, but will also protect surrounding portions of the abdominal tract, whereby to adapt the truss particularly for use by athletes.

A still further important object is to provide a truss construction which will meet the desirable aims set forth above, but will nevertheless be capable of manufacture at relatively low cost and will be durable and simple in construction.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combination of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a rear View of the truss, before formation of the scrotal cup.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, the upper portion of the truss being broken away, the cup being completely formed.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the truss comprises back and front pieces generally designated I and 2, and which can be formed of any suitable material, such as duck, leather, or plastic. In any event, the front and back pieces are of identical formation, and are superposed with their edges in registry, being stitched together through their entire peripheries.

Considering the formation of the back piece I as an example, this is provided at its upper end with laterally and upwardly inclined wings 3, and with a slightly concaved top edge 4. The lower edges of the wings 3 merge into the inwardly curved side edges 5, which cooperate to narrow the truss as to width substantially intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof.

Below the narrowed medial portion of the truss,

there is formed a cup portion 6 having a continuouslycurved edge, and formed centrally a slot 1 of wide formation, extending upwardly from the bottom edgeof the cup support, .along a lline extendingv` vertically and centrally of the truss.

Secured between the stitched-together top edges of the front and back pieces are spaced loops 8 for connection to a belt or the like, not shown.

In the wings 3 I form slots 9, the slot 9 of one wing being adapted to receive au belt IG adapted to pass around the thigh of the wearer, the belt III being connected at its other end to the scrotal support, in which is provided at one side a slot II, a similar slot II being formed in the other side of the scrotal support, receiving one end of a belt I2 that also passes through the other slot 9, passing around the other thigh of the wearer.

Disposed medially between opposite sides of the support, adjacent the upper end of the support, I provide in the present instance a pad I3 generally circular in coniiguration, adapted to exert pressure against the ruptured portion. The pad I3 can be formed of felt, leather, or any other suitable material. The pad I3 is a raised portion of an intestinal protective pad I4 which completely surrounds the pad I3 and is integral therewith, but which is lower in height, as readily seen from Fig. 3. The intestinal protective pad I4 is widest at its upper end, tapering to its lower end, the lower end of said protective pad I 4 being formed with an indentation I5 of inverted V-shape located immediately above centrally disposed opening IS, through which the penis projects.

The provision of the slot I previously described herein denes approximately triangular lapping portions, the area of overlap of which is designated by chain dotted lines I1, said lapping portions being designated I8. The lapping portions I8 of the scrotal support are lapped in the manner shown in Fig. 2, and thereby impart to the scrotal support the 4desired cup-like formation designed to give protective and comfortable support to the scrotal sac.

After the portions I8 have been lapped, they are stitched in place, and this will complete the formation of the truss.

In practice, it has been found that a truss formed in the manner described above acts effectively to apply desired pressure to a ruptured portion, while at the same time applying a lighter but desirable pressure to the surrounding intestinal area, an arrangement which has been found to be particularly of value to those engaged in athletic endeavors, but which is also of value to any person required to wear a truss. Additionally, the means whereby the scrotal cup support is formed has been found to reduce materially the necessary manufacturing cost, and permits the formation of the scrotal support so that it can be cupped shallowly or deeply, according to the needs of the particular wearer.

What is claimed is:

A truss comprising front and back pieces of identical configuration and formed from exi'ble material, said front and back pieces being stitched together' throughout their peripheries, there being oppositely extended side wings formed upon said pieces at the upper end thereof, a medially located pad disposed between said pieces adjacent the upper end thereof, said pad having a high center portion adapted to apply pressure to a ruptured area and a lower portion surrounding said higher portion and design to give protection to portions of the intestinal tract surrounding the ruptured area, the low portion of said pad being Widest at its upper end and tapering downwardly 4 and being formed with an indentation of inverted V-shape at its lower end, and a. cup-like scrotal support at the lower end of said pieces, said scrotal support comprising partially overlapped cup portions secured together to denne a cup of selected depth.

JOHN CALABRESE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 23,334 Montamarquet Jan. 23, 1951 464,768 Chambers Dec. 8, 1891 792,424 King June 13, 1905 1,019,501 Love Mar. 5, 1912 1,483,351A Keirstead Feb. l2, 1924 2,435,406 Prance Feb. 3, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 440,112 Germany Jan. 28, 1927 

